TV pilot production rebounds, but L.A. region still losing business

Despite a near-record number of pilots made here this year, Los Angeles is still struggling to keep television production in town.

Out of 186 television pilots this season, 96 were produced in the Los Angeles region, the second-largest annual tally in the city's history, according to a study by FilmL.A., a nonprofit group that handles film permits for the city and county.

However, the region continued to see a troubling slide in its share of the overall pilot production pie -- especially in the lucrative category of one-hour dramas -- as New York and rival cities grabbed a larger share of business, the report said.

L.A. had four more pilots than a year ago and just six fewer than it handled during its peak year of 2004-2005. The activity produced a 40% increase in production days for TV pilot shoots in Los Angeles between Jan. 1 through June 10.